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Jephthah's  Daughter:  A 
Biblical  Drama  in  One 
Act:  by  Elma  Ehrlich 
Levinger 


Samuel  French:  Publisher 

28-30  West  Thirty-eighth  Street:  New  York 


LONDON 


Samuel  French,  Ltd. 

26  SOUTHAMPTON  STREET,  STRAND 
PRICE   THIRTY. FIVE  CENTS 


THE  STAR  IN  THE  EAST.  Bible  play  in  four  acts  by  Anna 
Jane  Harnwell.  9  males,  4  females.  Plays  a  full  evening.  Biblical 
costumes.  This  four  act  drama  is  one  of  the  prize  plays  resulting 
from  the  contest  recently  held  by  the  Drama  League  of  America 
in  the  hope  of  securing  much  needed  Biblical  scenes  for  use  in  the 
religious  schools.  A  drama  of  the  Book  of  Esther.  It  is  written 
in  blank  verse,  and  adheres  closely  to  the  Bible  narrative.  Mor- 
decai  is  the  star  role  for  a  man,  but  the  characters  of  Esther, 
Vashti  and  the  King  are  almost  equally  good.  The  very  beautiful 
and  dramatic  setting  of  the  Old  Testament  story  makes  it  quite 
as  interesting  as  a  secular  production,  though  it  is  especially  suit 
able  for  church  or  Sunday  School  use.  Settings  as  simple  or  as 
elaborate  as  desired.  Price  35  cents. 


JEPTHAH'S  DAUGHTER.  Biblical  drama  in  1  act,  by  Elma 
Ehrlich  Levinger.  5  males,  6  females.  This  one-act  drama  of 
the  time  of  Esther  is  one  of  the  prize  plays  resulting  from  the 
contest  recently  held  by  the  Drama  League  of  America  in  the  hope 
of  securing  much  needed  material  on  Biblical  themes  for  use  in  the 
religious  schools.  It  presents  the  familiar  story  from  a  new  and 
dramatic  angle,  with  a  strong  element  of  suspense.  The  characters 
are  vividly  drawn,  the  dialogue  poetic  without  being  stilted.  It 
may  be  presented  either  with  simple  settings  and  a  small  group,  or 
as  a  pageant  play  with  elaborate  scenic  effects,  a  large  cast  and 
interpolated  choruses  and  group  dances.  Price  35  cents. 


THE  NATIVITY.  A  Christmas  festival  composed  entirely  of  selec 
tions  from  the  Bible  story  of  the  Nativity,  arranged  as  a  mystery 
play.  It  is  accompanied  by  carols  and  is  adapted  for  easy  pro 
duction  by  children  or  young  people,  to  be  given  as  a  service  at 
Christmas  time  in  the  churches.  The  "Nativity"  was  published 
a  few  years  ago  in  the  "Youth's  Companion."  Since  that  time 
there  has  been  so  large  a  demand  for  it  by  churches  of  all  de 
nominations  we  have  arranged  for  its  publication.  Price,  35  cents. 


SAMUEL  FRENCH,  Publisher,  28-30  West  38th  Street 


Jephthah's  Daughter 


A  BIBLICAL  DRAMA  IN  ONE  ACT 


BY 

ELMA  EHRLICH  LEVINGER 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  BURDEN,"  "PLAYMATES  IN  EGYPT/ 

"THE  NEW  LAND" 


PRIZE  PLAY 
DRAMA  LEAGUE  OF  AMERICA 


COPYRIGHT,  1921,  BY  DRAMA  LEAGUE  OF  AMERICA 

The  religious  Drama  Contest  was  conducted  by  the 
Drama  League  to  provide  much  needed  dramatic  material 
for  church  work.  That  these  plays  may  be  available  for 
the  largest  possible  public  use,  permission  is  granted  ama 
teurs  to  perform  the  plays  without  royalty,  but  all  profes 
sional  rights,  including  Little  Theaters  and  Motion  Pictures, 
are  reserved  by  the  Drama  League.  Applications  for  pro 
fessional  productions  should  be  addressed  to  the  Drama 
League  of  America,  59  East  Van  Buren  Street,  Chicago, 


New  York 
SAMUEL  FRENCH 

Publisher 
28-30  West  38th  Street 


London 
SAMUEL  FRENCH,  Ltd. 

Publisher 
26  Southampton  St.,  Strand 


/:  vi-"-"I: 
•  •••».•   : 


i 


TIME  :    A  spring  morning  in  the  days  of  the  Judges. 
PLACE:     Before  the  house  of  JEPHTHAH,  on  the 
road  to  Mizpch. 

CHARACTERS 

JEPITTHAH,  a  man  of  Gilead 
SHEILAH,  his  only  child 
ELAD,  his  father 
DINAH,   Sheilah's   old   nurse 
AM  ASA,  an  elder  in  Israel 
NATHAN,  his  son 
RACHEL,  Amasa's  daughter 
ZEBUL,  the  singer 
JOSIAH,  comrade  of  Jephthah 


SOLDIERS,  people  of  Mizpeh 


Jephthah's  Daughter 


(The  house  of  JEPHTHAH  is  a  humble,  low- 
roofed  affair  with  several  flat  stones  forming 
the  stairs;  rude  stone  pillars  either  side  the 
door.  A  few  rocks  forming  a  natural  rostrum. 
We  hear  a  girl's  voice  singing,  within  the  house, 
a  weirdly  impassioned  chant  of  battle  and 
triumphant  pride,  strangely  blended  with  re 
ligious  fervor.  Still  singing,  SHEILAH  comes 
out  of  the  house,  the  lap  of  her  scarlet  robe' 
heaped  high  with  floivers  which  she  twines 
among  the  garlands  already  about  the  posts. 
She  is  a  slender,  dark  girl  of  about  sixteen,  nozv 
shyly  dreaming,  now  running  over  with  youth 
and  happiness.  Tissot  has  drawn  her  well  in 
his  tanned,  vibrant  young  Jewess  with  the 
thoughtful  eyes.  As  she  works,  she  sings  half 
absently  the  old  song  of  her  people,  the  song  of 
Miriam  by  the  sea,  improvising,  now  and  then, 
her  voice  'thrilling  with  joyful  pride.) 

SHEILAH  : 

The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  song 
And  He  is  become  my  salvation ; 

Him  will  I  praise  from  morning  until  evening; 
The  Lord  has  heard  the  sound  of  my  lamentation ; 
He  has  given  ear  unto  my  cry : 

Therefore  will  I  exalt  Him  without  ceasi  ^. 
5 


486832 


6  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

Who  is  like  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  among  the  gods? 
Who  is  like  thee,  glorious  in  holiness, 
Fearful  in  praises,  doing  wonders? 

The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  song 

And  He  is  become  my  salvation  ; 

He  has  set  my  foot  upon  the  neck  of  those  who  hated 
me, 

He  has  decked  me  in  their  robes  of  blue  and  purple, 
Therefore  will  I  exalt  him  without  ceasing, 
Therefore  will  my  praises  ascend  by  day  and  by 
night. 

(DiNAH  comes  from  the  house,  a  wrinkled  woman 
with  graying  hair,  but  vigorous  and  upright. 
She  always  addresses  the  girl  with  a  sort  of 
chiding  tenderness.) 

DINAH.  Shame,  idle  child,  shame  !  Why  did  you 
run  away  and  leave  me  with  the  hearth  unswept  and 
the  dough  still  within  the  kneading  trough? 
(Grumbling.)  A  pretty  damsel  to  rule  the  home  — 
and  you  are  woman  grown! 


laughing  saucily  over  her  shoulder,  gives 
a  final  pat  to  her  garlands,  and,  taking  some 
bread  from  the  flat  straw  basket  upon  the  steps, 
begins  to  scatter  crumbs  to  the  birds.) 

DINAH.  (With  increasing  wrath)  You  pay  less 
heed  to  me  than  to  the  chirping  of  those  noisy  spar 
rows.  Come  in  at  once  and  help  me  with  my  tasks, 
lest  all  Mizpeh  say  I  let  you  run  as  wild  as  a  goat 
upon  the  hills.  Come  in,  I  say! 

SHETLAH.  (Shaking  her  off  laughingly)  Nurse, 
nurse,  leave  me  in  peace  and  give  your  scolding 
tongue  a  holiday,  for  is  it  not  high  festival  in  Miz- 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  7 

peh  ?  (She  runs  up  the  steps  to  rearrange  a  loose 
garland.)  Surely,  I  should  twine  these  doorposts 
with  garlands  when  my  own  father  is  returning  from 
battle  to-day  and  all  Mizpeh  will  strew  flowers  be 
fore  his  victorious  feet. 

DINAH.  (Still  grumbling)  Ay,  at  last  the  folk 
of  Mizpeh  know  his  worth.  Those  who  spit  on  our 
poor  house  when  passing  will  fling  wide  the  city's 
gate  at  his  coming  and  call  themselves  his  friends. 

SHEILAH.  The  lords  of  Mizpe'h  have  grown  his 
friends — nay,  his  bondmen.  My  father  went  forth 
an  outcast ;  he  will  return  a  king.  (Swaying  as  in  a 
triumphant  dance,  a  garland  above  her  head.)  He 
has  overcome  Ammon !  The  garments  of  the  princes 
of  Ammon  are  become  a  carpet  to  his  feet  that  he 
may  come  as  a  king  unto  Mizpeh. 

DINAH.  (Shaking  her  head  gloomily)  Yea,  re 
joice  in  the  thoughtlessness  of  your  youth.  Dance 
and  sing  in  triumph  and  never  a  thought  of  your 
mother  who  will  not  be  with  the  others  at  the  city's 
gate  to  sound  timbrels  to  his  glory. 

SHEILAH.  (With  a  sudden  change  of  mood, 
gravely  tender  as  she  throws  herself  beside  DINAH, 
now  seated  on  the  doorsill)  Poor  mother!  If  she 
had  not  died  when  I  was  born — if  she  might  only 
stand  among  the  women. and  hear  him  praised  in  the 
gates.  Perhaps,  it  might  redeem  a  little  the  years 
of  misery  she  spent  for  his  sake. 

DINAH.  (Soothing  her)  Nay,  my  little  one,  for 
get  the  jeers  and  the  injuries.  Your  mother  was 
woman  grown  when  she  wedded,  and  she  knew  what 
grief  awaited  her  as  the  wife  of  Jephtha'h,  an  outlaw 
in  Israel. 

SHEILAH.  (Indignantly)  My  father's  shame  was 
not  of  his  own  making! 

DINAH.  Surely,  he  suffered  for  no  sin  of  his  own. 
But  the  sons  of  Elad,  his  father,  could  never  forget 


8  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

that  Jephthah  was  the  son  of  a  woman  of  Moab 
and  they  hated  him  for  it.  His  youth  was  made  bit 
ter  as  the  child  of  a  strange  woman ;  when  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  found  a  maiden  brave  enough  to  be 
his  wife,  her  brethren  drove  them  out  of  Mizpeh 
with  stones  and  curses. 

SHEILAH.  (With  scorn)  And  for  this  bridal 
blessing,  for  the  long  years  of  hatred  for  him  and 
his,  my  father  avenges  himself — by  saving  his  per 
secutors  from  Ammon.  Less  generous  would  I  have 
shown  myself  to  those  who  scorned  me. 

DINAH.  (Chuckling)  Generous!  Nay,  daugh 
ter  of  Jephthah,  your  father  showed  himself  a 
shrewd  maker  of  bargains.  Ere  he  buckled  on  his 
armor,  did  he  not  exact  heavy  payment  from  Gilead  ? 
Did  he  not  demand  full  recognition  as  son  of  the 
tribe — nay,  more,  that  if  he  brought  low  the  children 
of  Ammon,  he  should  rule  as  a  king  in  Mizpeh. 

SHEILAH.  (Rising  and  gravely  bowing  before  an 
imaginary  monarch)  Greeting  to  you,  O  lord  and 
king!  Enter  the  gates  of  our  city  and  be  ruler  over 
Mizpeh.  Greeting  to  you,  O  warriors  of  Israel,  who 
have  saved  us  out  of  the  hand  of  Ammon. 

DINAH.  (Dryly,  as  she  rearranges  several  gar 
lands)  And  greeting  to  Nathan,  son  of  Amasa, 
right  hand  of  Jephthah  in  battle,  flower  of  the  youths 
of  Mizpeh ! 

SHEILAH.     (Half  angrily)    Cease,  Dinah 

DINAH.  (With  shrewd  humor)  Why  should  I 
hold  my  peace  when  every  tongue  in  Mizpeh  wags 
with  your  secret?  Even  before  the  sons  of  Gilead 
cried  on  Jephthah  for  aid,  every  old  wife  in  Mizpeh 
knew  that  Nathan,  son  of  Amasa,  had  pleaded  with 
your  father  for  your  hand. 

SHEILAH.     (Protesting)     We  are  not  betrothed. 

DINAH.  (Teasingly)  It  were  well  you  wore  the 
bridal  veil  to-day  to  hide  your  blushes — even  at  his 


JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER  9 

name.  Your  father  himself  told  me  that  should 
young  Nathan  prove  himself  worthy  in  battle 

SHEILAH.     He  never  told  me  of  his  love. 

DINAH.  (With  a  grimace)  These  eyes  are  grow 
ing  dim.  But  they  could  read  his  face  when  he  bade 
you  farewell  and  begged  you  for  a  trinket  to  wear  in 
battle.  (Pulling  aside  one  of  the  girl's  long  sleeves.) 
Where  is  the  golden  bracelet  your  mother  wore  upon 
her  wedding  day  ? 

SHEILAH.     (Looking  away)    I 

DINAH.  (Smiling)  He  will  bring  it  back  to-day 
and  you  will  wear  it  again — and  the  ring  of  betrothal 
also. 

SHEILAH.  I  would  not  have  him  see  me  so 
meanly  clad,  when  all  the  maids  of  Mizpeh  wear 
their  festal  robes.  (Her  arms  about  DINAH,  she 
speaks  pleadingly.)  Dear  Dina'h,  help  me  plait  my 
hair  and  let  me  don  fair  robes  that  I  may  do  grace 
to  those  who  return  triumphant  from  the  wars. 

DINAH.  (Who  has  been  resting  on  the  doorsill 
again,  rises,  grumbling)  Must  I  leave  my  work  un 
finished  to  deck  you  ?  You  are  fair  enough  in  these. 

SHEILAH.  I  would  be  like  a  queen  before  Miz 
peh.  (Petting  DIN  AH  J  You  will  surely  unlock 
the  chest  in  which  years  ago  you  laid  away  my  moth 
er's  bridal  robe  and  the  jewels  she  wore  upon  her 
bridal  day.  (As  DINAH  hesitates  and  shakes  her 
head.)  My  father  said  that  they  should  all  be  mine 
when  I  was  a  grown  woman.  Surely,  he  would  be 
pleased  to  see  me  wear  them  upon  this  day  of  days. 

DINAH.  (Grumbling,  but  eager)  Yes,  you  must 
have  them.  They  will  suit  you  well,  though  you  are 
less  stately  than  your  mother  .  .  .  and  not  half  so 
fair.  (She  looks  away  wistfully,  dreaming.)  But 
you  shall  be  decked  like  a  princess  on  her  bridal 
day,  for  the  time  has  come. 

SHEILAH.     (Half  afraid)     I   am   but   a   simple 


TO  JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER 

maid.  Perhaps  I  should  not  wear  my  mother's 
bridal  garments. 

DINAH.  (Soothing  away  her  fears)  You  are  a 
child  no  longer — little  one.  (Drazving  her  up  the 
stairs.)  Come  in  with  me  ...  not  stately  like  your 
mother  .  .  .  but  the  robes  will  suit  you  well.  (As 
they  stand  in  the  doorway,  RACHEL,  MICHAL  and 
TIRZAH,  three  young  girls,  laughing  and  radiant, 
their  arms  filled  with  flowers,  run  in.) 

RACHEL.  Sheilah,  Sheilah,  why  have  you  not 
joined  us  at  the  city's  gate?  We  are  waiting  for 
your  father 

TTRZAII.     We  must  make  haste 

MICHAL.  (Holding  out  her  hand)  Hurry — 
hurry 

SHEILAH.  (Proudly,  but  without  anger)  Once, 
Rachel,  you  were  not  so  eager  to  be  my  friend  and 
playmate.  You  even  censored  Nathan,  your  brother, 
for  crying  out  to  me,  as  I  passed,  to  join  in  your 
games. 

RACHEL.     That  was  long  years  ago.    To-day 

TIRZAH.  To-day  you  are  the  proudest  woman 
heart  in  all  Mizpeh.  Come,  forgive  us  our  past 
mockery  and  join  our  festal  procession  to  greet  your 
father. 

MICHAL.  (Taking  SHEILAH'S  hand  timidly) 
Surely,  you  forgive  us. 

SHEILAH.  (With  a  happy  laugh)  To-day  I  must 
forgive  you — and  all  Mizpeh — for  I  am  so  happy. 
(She  bends  down  and  kisses  little  MICHAL'S  upturned 
face.)  I  am  glad  you  will  be  my  friends — I  have 
been  hungry  for  love  and  friendship  all  my  days. 

DINAH.  (Cynically)  Ay,  we  all  pay  homage  even 
to  the  dog — if  he  protect  our  sheep  fold.  (As  the 
girls,  laughing  and  talking  among  themselves,  are 
about  to  drag  off  SHEILAH. )  Shameless  one — have 
I  not  taught  you  better  than  to  run  before  the  gath- 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  n 

ered  folk  with  tangled  hair  and  in  unseemly  gar 
ments? 

SHEILAH.  (Dancing  back  to  her  nurse)  Girls,  I 
will  join  you  at  the  city's  gate.  But  first — ah,  wait 
until  you  see  me  in  my  queenly  robes.  (With  a 
mock  salaam.)  In  paying  me  homage  you  will  for 
get  even  my  father's  glory. 

TIRZAH.     You  will  be  late 

SHEILAH.  Nay,  I  will  be  with  you  to  lead  the 
festal  dance  before  my  father.  (The  girls  run  out 
laughing  and  tal'king.  SHEILAH  is  about  to  follozv 
DINAH  when  she  stops  a  moment,  her  eyes  on  the 
distant  hills,  her  face  glowing  with  joy.) 

SHEILAH.  (Her  voice  a  little  hushed  at  the  beauty 
of  it  all)  Ah,  Dinah,  it  is  good  to  be  alive  on  a 
spring  morning  when  the  birds  are  building  their 
nests  and  singing  of  golden  summer  days.  (Her 
voice  breaking  a  little.)  I  am  so  happy  I  want  to 
run  and  dance  and  laugh — and  cry.  For  soon  my 
father  will  return  to  me,  no  longer  an  outcast,  but 
as  a  king  over  all  Gilead. 

DINAH.  (With  gentle  satire)  And  with  him 
Nathan,  king  of  men. 

SHEILAH.  (Simply)  And  Nathan,  the  youth 
who  played  with  me,  although  the  others  laughed, 
and  helped  me  search  for  the  first  shy  flowers  many 
springs  ago. 

DINAH.  (Kissing  her)  Come,  let  me  deck  you 
in  your  mother's  bridal  robes,  for  the  time  has  come. 
(They  go  into  the  house  together.) 

(A  moment's  pause.  A  group  of  soldiers,  among 
them  NATHAN,  and  JOSIAH,  enter  and  pass 
across  the  stage  toward  Mizpch.  Last  of  all 
come  JEPHTHAH  and  his  father,  ELAD.  JEPH- 
THAH  is  a-  mighty  man,  broad  of  shoulder,  bull- 
throated,  clad  in  armor.  His  eyes  are  keen  as  a 


12  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

sword ;  about  his  mouth  the  shameful  years  have 
left  bitter  lines  not  even  his  present  pride  can 
erase.  ELAD  is  a  bent  old  man  with  a  calm,  cold 
face.  He  walks  with  a  staff  and  sinks  upon  the 
rocks  to  rest.) 

JEPHTHAH.  (With  a  mocking  gesture)  Wel 
come  to  Jephthah's  palace,  O  father.  It  has  long 
been  the  target  of  the  stones  and  curses  of  my  neigh 
bors.  (His  face  softens  as  he  notices  the  garlands 
about  the  doorposts;  he  touches  one  caressingly.)  My 
little  Sheilah's  handiwork.  The  one  thing  in  all  the 
word  to  love  me  when  I  wore  the  brand  of  shame. 

ELAD.  (Wincing  at  the  unspoken  reproach) 
How  could  /  acknowledge  you  before  the  people? 

JEPHTHAH.  Surely,  there  was  little  pride  in  be 
ing  father  of  the  foreign  woman's  son.  But  to-day 
— (With  a  swift  gesture.) — ah,  to-day,  I  cast  aside 
my  ancient  shame  and  my  ancient  hatreds.  My  tribe 
that  once  cast  me  out  will  receive  me  with  timbrels, 
with  singing  and  with  garlands  of  victory.  (Lifting 
one  of  the  garlands  from  the  door.)  Nay,  more: 
they  will  keep  their  bargain  and  I  will  be  more  than 
a  son  of  Gilead ;  I  will  rule  the  people  and  dwell  as 
a  king  in  Mizpeh.  Have  I  not  done  well,  O  my 
father? 

ELAD.     Yea,  too  well. 

JEPHTHAH.  (About  to  enter  the  house,  comes 
back  to  where  ELAD  sits)  I  do  not  understand. 

ELAD.  I  fear  the  good  fortune  which  raises  a  man 
from  the  dunghill  to  the  throne.  The  Lord  when 
He  gives  too  generously  with  one  hand,  withdraws 
with  the  other.  He  has  given  you  all  too  bountifully 
of  elory — He  will  demand  payment. 

JEPHTHAH.     Let  Him  demand  payment  and  I  will 

pay- 

ELAD.     (Shaking  his  gray  head)     Beware  of  idle 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  13 

boasting  lest  you  stumble  in  your  pride.  The  Lord 
God  is  not  as  a  merchant  in  the  marketplace  that 
you  can  bargain  with  Him. 

JEPHTHAH.  Nay,  let  Him  demand  payment  and 
I  will  mete  out  to  Him  with  just  weights  and  a  just 
measure.  Did  I  not  demand  payment  of  the  men  of 
Gilead?  And  have  they  not  paid?  Shall  I  be  less 
honest  even  with  the  Lord? 

EL  AD.  (Rising)  He  may  demand  heavy  pay 
ment.  O  my  son,  I  am  fearful  for  you.  Perhaps, 
too  fearful ;  but  since  m.y  Simeon  fell  in  battle  yes- 
termonth,  I  have  no  son  but  you  and  I  tremble  lest 
misfortune  cross  the  doorsill  of  your  house.  All  my 
hopes  lie  in  you  and  Sheilah,  the  last  of  our  blood  in 
Israel,  seeing  that  you  have  no  other  child  and  all  my 
other  sons  are  dead. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Throwing  off  his  slight  forebod 
ing)  See — I  have  only  to  stretch  forth  my  hand  and 
I  grasp — (Catching  one  of  the  loose  garlands.) — vic 
tory,  glory,  praise  before  the  sons  of  Gilead.  True, 
as  you  say,  I  have  risen  from  the  dunghill.  (Exult 
antly.)  But  who  can  drag  me  from  my  throne? 

ELAD.     (Quietly)    God ! 

JEPHTHAH.  (Proudly)  Let  Him  call  me  to  ac 
count  and  I  will  answer  Him  according  to  His  reck 
oning. 

ELAD.  Vows  made  in  storms  are  forgotten  in 
calms.  What  of  your  vow  ? 

JEPHTHAH.  (His  face  suddenly  sharp  and 
troubled)  My  vow?  Perhaps  I  did  indeed  do  evil 
in  His  sight  to  vow  rashly  and  seek  to  bribe  the  liv 
ing  God  ?  (Unconsciously,  he  grips  his  sword,  as  the 
battle  lives  again  before  his  eyes.)  Near  midnight 
and  we  had  waged  battle  against  Ammon  since  sun 
rise.  My  men  exhausted,  bleeding,  nigh  unto  death. 
My  sword  arm  weak  and  wounded.  From  the  hills 
pale  fires  burning  where  those  of  Ammon  offered  up 


14  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

sacrifices  to  their  gods  and  prayed  for  victory.  Could 
I  have  done  otherwise,  O  my  father  ? 

ELAD.  Beware  false  vows  which  lead  to  shame 
and  dishonor.  The  vow  which  God  has  heard  must 
be  fulfilled. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Sweeping  on)  Leaning  upon  the 
arm  of  Nathan,  son  of  Amasa,  I  groped  my  way 
from  the  field.  I  had  thought  to  fall  on  my  sword, 
for  I  dared  not  fall  alive  into  the  hand  of  the  Gen 
tiles.  Under  the  stars  I  cried  upon  the  Lord — and 
He  answered  me. 

ELAD.  (Sternly)  Yea,  you  called  upon  Him  even 
as  the  heathen  called  upon  their  gods  that  night,  of 
fering  strange  flesh  upon  their  altars  in  the  hills. 

JEPHTHAH.  I  was  mad — mad  with  my  pain  and 
weariness — and  fear.  I,  even  I,  Jephthah,  knew  fear 
at  that  moment.  Not  for  myself,  for  my  sword  was 
ready,  and  though  curs  worry  a  clead  lion,  he  feels 
not  their  fangs.  But  I  feared  for  Sheilah,  my  little 
dove,  whom  my  death  would  leave  alone  in  the  for 
est,  prey  to  every  snare  of  the  fowler,  daughter  of 
an  outcast  in  Israel. 

ELAD.  (Softening  a  little)  So  it  was  for  little 
Sheilah  you  wrought  this  sin  before  the  Lord? 

JEPHTHAH.  He  will  not  account  it  for  sin,  as  in 
my  madness  I  knew  not  what  I  vowed. 

ELAD.  But  I  was  not  mad — nor  was  Nathan,  son 
of  Amasa,  and  we  heard  without  mistaking  the  words 
you  spoke  before  the  Lord.  (Sternly.)  Has  your 
madness  left  you  that  you  in  the  light  of  day  can 
recall  the  wild  vow  you  pledged  there  in  the  dark 
ness? 

JEPHTHAH.  (Striving  to  speak  calmly)  Surely, 
I  recall  the  vow  I  made  unto  the  Lord  before  He 
sent  strength  back  into  my  arms  and  hope  into  my 
soul.  (Repeats  itnth  a  sort  of  awed  hesitancy.)  I 
vowed  unto  the  Lord  and  said,  "If  Thou  wilt  in- 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  15 

deed  deliver  the  children  of  Ammon  into  my  hand, 
whatsoever  cometh  out  of  my  house  to  meet  me  when 
I  return  in  peace  from  the  children  of  Ammon,  it 
shall  be  the  Lord's  and  I  will  offer  it  up  for  a  burnt 
offering." 

ELAD.  So  did  you  vow — a  rash  vow  and  Unholy 
from  the  mouth  of  a  son,  of  Israel. 

JEPHTHAH.  Can  one  come  forth  from  a  tomb? 
My  house  is  as  empty  as  a  conquered  city.  Sheilah 
and  Dinah,  her  nurse,  have  gone  to  join  the  women 
in  Mizpeh  who  will  dance  before  me  with  timbrels 
and  with  rejoicing.  (^NATHAN,  who  has  previously 
passed,  now  re-enters,  flowers  twined  about  his  sword 
and  helmet.)  Ah,  my  good  Nathan,  have  you  seen 
your  brethren  ? 

NATHAN.  Yea,  my  lord  Jephthah,  and  it  is  well 
with  them,  even  my  aged  father,  Amasa.  He  comes 
with  the  other  elders  of  Mizpeh  to  welcome  you  who 
have  saved  them  out  of  the  hand  of  Ammon.  Grow 
ing  impatient,  they  will  seek  you  here. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Nodding  approval)  They  come  to 
do  me  honor.  And  my  little  Sheilah?  Did  she  not 
shine  bravely  forth  among  the  maids  of  Mizpeh? 

NATHAN.  (Anxiously)  Nay,  my  lord.  She  was 
not  with  the  others.  But  my  sister  Rachel  said  she 
remained  at  home  to  deck  herself. 

JEPHTHAH.  (In  sudden  fear)  Is  she  within? 
(Unconsciously  he  turns  to  his  own  door,  crying 
out.)  Sheilah! 

SHEILAH.  (Within)  Nay,  Dinah,  the  circlet  is 
fastened.  Hasten — my  father  calls!  (SHEILAH 
comes  bounding  from  the  house,  dressed  in 
robes  of  white  and  rich  purples  and  blues,  a  jew 
eled  circlet  and  silvered  veil  about  her  head,  timbrels 
in  her  hands.) 


16  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

SHEILAH.  I  am  the  first  to  greet  you.  Welcome 
home. 

NATHAN.     (Crying  out  in  terror)    Back !    Back ! 

JEPHTHAH.  (Trying  to  push  her  hands  away  as 
she  seeks  to  embrace  him)  Return  unto  the  house 
— return.  (Frantically.)  Why  did  you  come  forth  ? 

SHEILAH.  (Amazed)  To  bid  you  welcome. 
(Again  trying  to  throw  her  arms  about  him  as  he 
turns  away.)  Father,  look  at  me. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Hoarsely)  What  have  I  done  that 
God  should  hate  me  so? 

SHEILAH.  (In  hurt  wonderment)  Father!  (She 
goes  shyly  to  ELAD  and  bends  to  kiss  his  hand.  He 
raises  her  and  embraces  her,  his  stern  face  quivering 
ivith  emotion.  She  goes  back  to  her  father,  timidly 
taking  his  hand.)  Perhaps  you  are  wroth  to  see  me 
robed  in  these  ?  Dinah  permitted  me  to  deck  myself 
thus,  for  she  thought  that  it  would  please  you  to  see 
me  in  my  mother's  festal  garments.  (Shyly,  her  eyes 
falling  before  NATHAN'S  admiring  glance.)  She 
said  that  they  became  me.  (Falling  before  her 
father,  she  spreads  out  her  glittering  robes.)  Father, 
will  you  not  look  at  me  ? 

NATHAN.  (Raising  her  and  trying  to  draw  her 
away)  Fret  not  your  father. 

SHEILAH.  But  I  have  not  seen  him  these  many 
months  and  now 

NATHAN.  He  is  spent  and  worn  after  his  wounds 
and  many  battles. 

SHEILAH.  (Now  all  tender  concern)  Father — 
you,  perchance,  are  faint  from  your  long  march  be 
neath  the  burning  sun?  (He  nods,  unable  to  speak.) 
Then,  come,  and  I  will  take  your  helmet  and  your 
spear.  (Smilingly  she  disarms  him.)  See,  Nathan, 
again  I  act  as  armorbearer  to  a  captain  in  Israel. 
Give  me  your  cloak,  O  my  father.  (Her  hands  are 
filled  ;  she  pauses  a  moment  to  lean  her  head  upon 


JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER  17 

his  shoulder.)  I  will  bring  a  cooling  drink  for  you 
and  you  must  rest  before  we  go  down  into  Mizpeh 
together. 

JEPHTHAH.  (To  NATHANJ  Take  her  away.  I 
cannot  bear  to  look  upon  her  face. 

NATHAN.  (To  SHEILAH,  relieving  her  of  her 
burden  as  he  leads  her  into  the  house)  Come — I  will 
bear  these  things  within  for  you.  And  Dinah,  your 
nurse,  will  help  us  to  prepare  a  drink  to  refresh  your 
father.  ( The  two  go  into  the  house,  talking  together, 
SHEILAH  casting  a  glance  at  her  father,  half  en 
treaty,  half  fear.) 

JEPHTHAH.  (After  a  long  silence,  avoiding 
ELAD'S  eyes)  The  Lord  cannot  demand  payment 
now.  I  knew  not  what  I  vowed. 

ELAD.  (Quietly)  The  vow  that  God  has  'heard 
must  be  fulfilled. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Pleading)  You  must  be  silent. 
My  victories  have  left  me  as  a  king ;  my  wealth,  my 
power — what  are  they  worth  without  her,  my  only 
child,  seeing  that  beside  her  I  have  neither  sons  nor 
daughters.  And  I  will  not  play  the  miser  with  you 
— if  you  forget  my  vow,  as  I  must  do. 

ELAD.  I  am  an  man  of  honor,  an  elder  in  Israel : 
yet  you  dare  stain  my  ears  with  bribes ! 

JEPHTHAH.  (With  sudden  craft)  Bribes?  Am 
I  not  your  son — even  before  the  people — and  are  not 
my  possessions  and  my  praises  yours  ?  Now  wealth 
will  I  give  to  keep  your  age  from  want  and  in  Miz- 
peh's  gates  shall  my  voice  praise  your  name,  bidding 
all  men  show  you  reverence. 

ELAD.  (With  quiet  scorn)  What  are  the  prom 
ises  of  one  foresworn?  First  pay  the  debt  you  owe 
unto  the  Lord  our  God. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Broken,  his  spirit  all  gone  from 
him)  Hear  me  for  pity,  then,  since  neither  gold 
nor  honor  buy  your  silence.  My  child  is  all  to  me. 


i8  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

Just  now  she  stood  there  so  like  her  own  mother  on 
her  bridal  day,  I  dreamed  I  saw  her  mother  in  her 
face  ...  a  stately  maiden  as  beautiful  as  the  sun 
rise  .  .  .  (Abruptly.)  Is  it  nothing  to  you  that  my 
only  child  must  die? 

ELAD.  (With  a  sudden  flare  of  anger)  It  is 
much  to  me  that  the  last  of  our  blood  must  perish 
for  your  folly,  that  our  line  must  end  should  Sheil- 
ah's  eyes  close  in  death  ere  she  leaves  a  child  to  call 
her  "mother." 

JEPHTHAH.  Then  mercy — since  your  bereaved 
heart  will  bleed  with  mine  above  her  grave.  What 
joy  will  remain  for  either  of  us,  if  she  be  gone? 

ELAD.  (Himself  again)  Our  joys  and  griefs  are 
ripples  on  a  stream.  The  vow  that  God  has  heard 
must  be  fulfilled. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Eagerly)  Perchance  a  vow  made 
before  the  altar  of  the  Lord  and  in  the  open  day. 
But  no  man  heard  my  vow  save  young  Nathan,  son 
of  Amasa ;  and  he  loves  her  as  his  own  soul.  He 
will  not  chide  me  for  my  broken  vow. 

ELAD.  But  I  heard — and  I  have  not  forgotten  nor 
will  I  forget  the  vow  you  made  before  the  Lord. 

JEPHTHAH.     Father! 

ELAD.  (Unheeding)  I  know  with  what  rash 
promise  you  sought  to  bribe  the  Lord  God  and  if 
your  memory  stumble  I  will  seek  ever  to  keep  your 
vow  before  your  eyes.  If  you  dare  tempt  the  anger 
of  the  Lord  by  mocking  Him,  His  righteous  anger 
will  not  flame  for  you  alone,  but  will  consume  all 
our  land  by  reason  of  your  sin.  He  inclined  His 
ear  to  your  voice ;  He  gave  to  you  the  desire  of  your 
heart.  Surely,  He  heard  your  vow  and  it  must  be 
fulfilled. 

JEPHTHAH.  Though  you  are  merciless  to  me — 
be  kind  to  hen  She  is  so  young;  the  flower  of  her 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  19 

life  is  opening  to  the  sun  and  a  golden  path  stretches 
before  her.  She  must  not  die. 

ELAD.  Death  is  a  little  thing,  but  honor  great. 
The  vow  that  God  has  heard  must  be  fulfilled. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Heavily,  without  anger)  I  think 
you  must  be  as  merciless  as  God. 


comes  from  the  house  bearing  a  goblet. 
She  is  followed  by  NATHAN  and  DINAH.  The 
former  looks  greatly  troubled  in  spite  of  his  ef 
forts  to  remain  calm.) 

DINAH.  (With  an  obeisance  to  the  two  men) 
Welcome,  O  my  master.  1  have  cared  for  the  maid 
during  your  absence  like  a  tender  flower.  (Fondly.) 
Is  she  not  like  a  rose  in  her  festal  dress? 

JEPHTHAH.  (Holding  SHEILAH  at  arms'  length 
and  speaking  with  a  terrible  longing)  A  rose  that 
whispers  summer  to  my  heart! 

SHEILAH.  (Looking  up  at  him  brightly)  Ah, 
now  you  are  my  good  father  again  !  Come,  taste  of 
the  drink  I  have  just  prepared  for  you. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Taking  cup)  A  bitter  drink,  you 
give  to  me,  my  child. 

NATHAN.  (Hurriedly  to  JEPHTHAH  as  DINAH 
draws  SHEILAH  away  fussily  rearranging  her  veil) 
See,  the  people  of  Mizpeh  wait  no  longer.  They  will 
do  you  honor  even  before  your  house. 

JEPHTHAH.     (Seizing  his  hand)     My  vow! 

NATHAN.  It  must  be  as  though  it  had  never  been 
spoken.  Only  raise  your  head  and  look  boldly  upon 
the  people,  lest  they  think  you  a  man  afflicted  by  the 
hand  of  God. 

(The  people  of  Mizpeh  enter  in  festal  procession,  the 
elders,  led  by  AMASA,  at  their  head.  The  sol 
diers  are  in  armor,  their  helmets  and  spears  fes- 


20  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

tooned  with  flowers.  The  women  and  children 
carry  flowers.  ZEBUL,  the  singer,  stands  zvith 
his  harp  among  the  maidens  who  carry  timbrels 
which  they  clash  as  they  move.) 

AMASA.'  (As  the  great  shouting  dies  away)  No 
longer  would  we  bide  by  the  city's  gate  to  bid  you 
welcome,  O  Jephthah.  Great  wonders  have  you 
wrought  for  us  in  the  battlefield  and  all  that  is  ours, 
our  hands,  our  homes,  our  hearts,  are  yours,  seeing 
that  your  hand  has  delivered  us  from  the  children 
of  Ammon. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Lifelessly)  Not  I,  but  the  Lord 
brought  low  our  enemy.  I  conquered  only  in  His 
name. 

EL  AD.     (Warningly)    And  if  a  man  deny  him 

ZEBUL.  (Slight  and  boyish,  clad  in  white  and 
gold)  Women  of  Mizpeh,  cast  flowers  before  the 
feet  of  him  who  delivered  us  from  Ammon.  Maid 
ens,  sound  your  timbrels  and  cry  aloud  his  name 
before  all  the  people. 

(The  women  and  children  shower  JEPHTHAH  with 
flowers  as  he  stands  on  the  doorsteps,  his  hand 
upon  NATHAN'S  shoulder,  his  face  hard  and 
white.  Then,  at  a  signal  from  ZEBUL,  the  maid 
ens  whirl  into  a  festal  dance,  clashing  their  tim 
brels  as  they  move.  The  dance  is  ivild  and  bar 
baric  in  its  fierce  joy:  through  it  all  flashes  the 
figure  of  JEPHTHAH'S  daughter,  who  at  the  last, 
casts  her  timbrels  aside  and  dances  with  her 
father's  sword  held  in  triumph  above  her  head.) 

PEOPLE  OF  MIZPEH.  (As  dance  ends  and  maid 
ens  prostrate  themselves  before  JEPHTHAH,)  Hail 
—Jephthah— hail ! 

A  WOMAN.     (Bringing  tivo  little  children  to  JEPH- 


JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER  21 

THAHj  Deliverer  of  Israel,  may  not  my  children 
kiss  your  garments'  hem  that  in  years  to  come  they 
may  boast  of  it,  in  speaking  of  this  day  of  days  ? 

JEPHTHAH.  (Drawing  back  as  though  in  terror) 
No — no. 

AN  OLD  MAN.  (Richly  dressed  and  followed  by 
his  slaves)  O  my  lord  Jephthah,  make  glad  the 
heart  of  your  servant  by  accepting  a  few  poor  trin 
kets  out  of  his  hand.  (He  presses  upon  JEPHTHAH 
two  golden  caskets  he  takes  from  his  slaves.)  Ac 
cept  these,  my  lord,  and  honor  the  giver  in  your  ac 
ceptance.  (From  one  of  the  caskets,  which  JEPH 
THAH  with  a  gesture  almost  of  horror  has  handed 
to  NATHAN,  he  draws  forth  a  glittering  diadem)  I 
know  this  too  mean  a  trifle  to  encircle  the  brow  of 
him  who  saved  us  from  Ammon.  (With  the  mock 
humility  of  the  Orient.)  Though  it  has  long  been 
cherished  in  our  house,  for  'tis  said  my  ancestor 
brought  it  out  of  Egypt  and  even  Pharoah  might 
have  worn  it  without  shame.  (With  another  bow.) 
And  deign  to  take  these  poor  vials  filled  with  rare 
oils  and  strange  ointments,  unworthy  your  notice, 
though  they  might  anoint  a  king  on  his  crowning 
day. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Protesting)  No — no — not  for  me 
such  gifts  and  such  homage. 

NATHAN.  Be  strong,  my  lord,  and  of  good  cour 
age.  (Seeking  to  divert  the  people  who  have  begun 
to  look  upon  JEPHTHAH  curiously,  talking  among 
themselves.)  Sing,  Zebul,  sing  a  festal  song  for  our 
rejoicing. 

VOICES.  Take  your  harp,  O  singer  of  God,  and 
play  upon  it. 

rises  upon  the  rocks  and  plays  a  prelude 
upon  his  harp  before  he  begins  his  song.  When 
ever  lie  pauses,  the  people  continue,  improvising 
in  their  joy. ) 


22  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

ZEBUL : 

I  will  sing  unto  the  Lord, 

I  will  sing  praise  to  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel. 

WOMEN  : 

We  will  sing  of  the  victories  of  Israel. 
WARRIORS  : 

We  will  sing  of  the  triumph  of  Jephthah  before 
the  Lord. 

WOMEN  : 

Lo,  Ammon  was  upon  us ; 

Ammon  laid  waste  our  cities, 

And  our  virgins  he  carried  into  captivity. 

WARRIORS  : 

We  took  up  the  sword  against  Ammon ; 

But  Ammon  stood  as  a  rock, 

And  our  hearts  were  troubled  within  us. 

ZEBUL : 

Then  arose  Jephthah  like  a  star  in  the  darkness, 

Even  as  a  star  that  brings  deliverance  in  the  night 
season ; 

He  unsheathed  the  sword  and  Ammon  trembled  be 
fore  him ; 

He  went  forth  into  battle  and  the  horsemen  of  Am 
mon  fled  before  his  coming. 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  23 

WARRIORS  : 

The  princes  of  Ammon  fled,  leaving  their  weapons 
behind  them ; 

WOMEN  : 

The  women  of  Ammon  wail  upon  the  mountains  for 
those  who  return  not  from  battle. 

ZEBUL : 

All  this  has  Jephthah  accomplished  for  the  sake  of 

Israel : 

He  raised  his  hand  and  he  conquered, 
He  went  forth  to  battle  and  his  captains  divided  the 

spoil. 

('ZEBUL  pauses  for  a  moment,  his  fingers  wandering 
dreamily  over  the  strings.  EL  AD  comes  close  to 
JEPHTHAH,  his  face  stern  and  threatening.) 

ELAD.  I  will  look  no  longer  upon  this  mockery. 
Every  honor,  every  praise  uttered  to  your  name  will 
do  more  to  kindle  the  anger  of  the  God  you  have 
denied.  Strip  yourself  of  deceit  and  show  yourself 
to  the  people  for  what  you  are — the  breaker  of  your 
oath  even  to  God. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Indicating  SHEILAH  as  she  stands 
listening  to  NATHANJ  I  cannot. 

ELAD.     Speak  you — or  I  will  speak. 

AM  ASA.  (Warningly)  Hush — again  the  singer 
speaks  for  God. 

ZEBUL.     (His  face  rapt) 
I  will  sing  unto  the  Lord, 
I  will  sing  praise  unto  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel ; 


24  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

For  with  oil  hath  He  filled  my  cup, 
He  hath  filled  my  cup  even  to  overflowing; 
Therefore  will  I  praise  the  Lord, 
Therefore  will  I  magnify  His  name  forever  and  ever. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Turning  to  ELAD  and  crying  out 
passionately)  Cease  with  your  music  and  rejoic 
ing!  (ZEBUL  comes  down  from  his  place  on  the 
rocks.  The  people  look  at  each  other  in  amazed 
fear.) 

SHEILAH.  (Throwing  herself  before  her  father) 
Father — my  father — what  hidden  grief  tears  at  your 
heart  ?  What  bitter  thing  troubles  you  ? 

JEPHTHAH.  (Dully)  Alas,  my  daughter,  you 
have  brought  me  low.  You  alone  trouble  me.  For 
I  have  sworn  and  I  dare  not  turn  back. 

NATHAN.  (Coming  to  him  quickly)  For  her 
sake  be  silent. 

ELAD.  Speak,  Jephthah — will  you  tell  the  people, 
or  must  I  ? 

NATHAN.     Peace — Elad — peace! 

ELAD.  Nay,  he  must  speak,  for  who  can  hide 
from  God?  Speak,  Jephthah — tell  of  your  bargain 
with  the  Lord.  Let  the  people  judge  betwixt  you. 

^JEPHTHAH   tries  to  speak,  hesitates,   turns  away. 
The  people  murmur  among  themselves.) 

TIRZAH.  The  hand  of  God  has  touched  him;  he 
would  speak  and  yet  is  dumb. 

NATHAN.     (Pleadingly)     You  will  not  tell  them  ? 

JEPHTHAH.  I  must  speak;  for  if  my  tongue  is 
silent  he  will  accuse  me.  And  I  feel  God  is  on  his 
side,  not  mine.  (To  the  people.)  You  praise  me 
for  my  hard-won  battles,  the  cities  I  have  taken  by 
my  spear.  Praise  instead  the  Lord  God  of  Israel 
who  led  me  on  and  brought  me  at  last  unto  victory. 


JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER  25 

AMASA.  Surely,  we  praise  Him  without  measure 
for  saving  us  through  your  hand. 

JEPHTHAH.  If  there  be  justice  in  Mizpeh,  hear 
my  words  and  judge  fairly  between  me  and  this  man, 
even  my  father.  Learn  how  I  bribed  the  Lord  God 
to  do  battle  for  your  sakes  and  brought  victory  out 
of  His  hand  that  Israel  might  not  perish  from  the 
earth. 

NATHAN.  You  are  mad.  I  pray  you  do  not 
speak. 

JEPHTHAH.  Nay,  my  son.  Perhaps  it  is  better 
that  the  men  of  Mizpeh  decide  this  thing  and  bid  me 
do  what  seems  right  in  their  eyes.  Can  I  fear  their 
decision,  seeing  that  they  are  fathers  with  the  love 
of  their  own  children  in  their  hearts?  (He  turns 
again  to  the  wondering  people.)  Hear,  then,  how  I 
bribed  our  God  that  He  might  lead  us  unto  peace :  I, 
even  I,  Jephthah,  son  of  Elad,  raised  my  hands  to 
Him  in  the  darkness  and  cried  unto  Him :  "If  Thou 
wilt  indeed  deliver  the  children  of  Ammon  into  my 
hand,  whatsoever  cometh  out  of  my  house  to  meet 
me  when  I  return  in  peace,  it  shall  be  the  Lord's  and 
I  will  offer  it  up  for  a  burnt  offering." 

SIIEILAH.     (Half  understanding)     My  father ! 

JEPHTHAH.  (Appealing  to  NATHAN,)  Were 
these  the  words  I  spoke  to  God  ? 

NATHAN.  (Passionately)  He  did  not  hear  your 
words — He  did  not  hear. 

JEPIITHAH.  (To  the  people)  And  as  I  ap 
proached  the  gates  of  Mizpeh  to-day,  my  daughter 
came  to  meet  me.  These  two  know  she  was  the  first 
to  come  from  out  my  house. 

("DINAH  holds  SHEILAH  in  sudden  terror.    The  peo 
ple  draw  back.) 

JEPHTHAH.     Men  of  Mizpeh,  men  of  Mizpeh,  tell 


-6  JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER 

me,  must  I  keep  such  a  vow  made  in  the  madness  of 
battle  when  I  knew  not  what  I  vowed? 

AMASA.  (Doubtfully  to  ELAD)  Throughout 
Mizpeh  and  Gilead,  men  speak  of  your  wisdom  in 
the  gates  and  come  to  you  for  judgment.  Advise 
us  out  of  your  knowledge,  O  Elad,  and  tell  us  must 
he  keep  this  vow. 

ELAD.  The  vow  that  God  has  heard  must  be  ful 
filled.  Else  will  His  anger  consume  all  Mizpeh  and 
the  people  therein,  because  you  forced  not  Jephthah 
to  fulfill  his  vow. 

JEPHTHAH.  My  friends — you  are  my  friends, 
now  that  I  have  saved  you  from  Aminon — friends,  it 
was  for  your  sake,  I  vowed  and  if  I  sinned  I  sinned 
for  your  sake,  also.  If  I  fail  in  payment  and  His 
anger  be  kindled  against  Mizpeh,  will  you  not  bear 
it  willingly  since  it  is  I  who  saved  you  out  of  the 
hand  of  Ammon? 

JOSIAH.  (Leaving  his  place  among  the  warriors) 
I  am  a  soldier — a  poor,  plain  man,  not  wise  in  the 
ways  of  the  Lord  as  you,  O  elders  in  Israel.  (He 
indicates  AMASA  and  ELAD.J  But  this  I  know — 
Jephthah  has  fought  for  the  Lord  of  Battles  as  no 
man  ever  fought  for  Him  before.  Surely,  with  Jeph- 
thah's  blood  shed  upon  the  battlefield  the  Lord  will 
wash  out  all  remembrances  of  the  vow  he  made  for 
Mizpeh. 

ELAD.     Not  so — for  God  remembers  and  is  just. 

JOSIAH.  Then  if  He  does  indeed  demand  a  sac 
rifice,  since  it  was  for  Mizpeh  Jephthah  sinned,  let 
one  of  Mizpeh  atone.  Let  me  be  slain  upon  the 
altar.  I  have  lived  my  days  and  there  are  none  to 
mourn  for  me  ;  but  this  young  maid  is  like  a  meadow 
flower.  (Murmurs  half  of  relief,  half  of  anger 
among  the  people.  JEPHTHAH  seizes  JOSIAH'S 
hand.) 

ELAD.  Though  a  dozen  men  and  maidens  be  of 
fered  upon  the  altar,  yet  will  His  wrath  not  dimin- 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  27 

ish  against  Mizpeh.  Yet  will  you  harbor  in  your 
midst  a  mocker  of  God,  a  breaker  of  vows.  If  thus 
you  seek  to  cheat  the  God  of  Truth,  from  this  day 
no  vow  is  safe  in  Israel. 

ZEBUL.  (Rousing  himself  from  his  reverie)  If 
God  require  this  child  for  a  sacrifice,  He  will  speak. 
But,  surely,  the  maid  is  guiltless  and  she  must  not 
die. 

ELAD.  (Bitterly)  Yet  must  all  the  guiltless  in 
Mizpeh  perish  because  we  did  not  prevent  Jephthah 
when  he  sought  to  break  his  vow? 

NATHAN.  (Appealing  to  AMASAJ  My  father, 
you  are  the  first  of  the  elders  of  Mizpeh.  You  have 
the  ear  of  the  people  even  as  Elad.  Speak  to  them 
— urge  them  that  they  forbid  Jephthah  lay  hand  upon 
his  child. 

A  MAS  A.  (Heavily)  My  son — my  son — and  you 
sought  her  for  your  bride !  (He  turns  to  the  people 
waiting  for  his  words,  hesitates,  goes  to  JEPHTHAH 
and  takes  his  hand.)  I  would  that  I  might  comfort 
you  and  yet  only  bitter  words  can  fall  from  my 
tongue  to-day.  This  youth — (His  hand  on  NA 
THAN'S  shoulder.) — is  very  dear  to  me  in  the  pride 
and  splendor  of  his  manhood.  Yet  had  I  vowed  as 
you,  and  had  the  Lord  God  so  smitten  me  for  my 
presumption,  him  would  I  sacrifice  to  appease  the 
righteous  wrath  of  the  Most  High. 

NATHAN.     (Protesting)     My  father! 

AMASA.  I  know  that  your  child  is  your  life,  for 
we  live  only  in  our  children.  But  can  a  man  live 
without  honor?  Will  the  sons  of  men  give  heed  to 
the  pledges  of  one  who  has  broken  a  vow  made  with 
out  compulsion  and  without  force?  No  power  in 
Israel  can  force  you  to  do  the  thing  that  you  have 
sworn  to  do,  a  thing  so  fearful  that  I  dare  not  call 
it  by  name.  But  be  warned,  O  Jephthah,  that  if 
you  fail  to  keep  your  vow,  every  voice  in  Israel  will 


28  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

cry  out  against  you  as  a  son  of  shame,  a  thing  with 
out  honor,  a  breaker  of  vows. 

JEPHTHAH.     (Cowering)    Cease — cease 

NATHAN.  (Turning  on  his  father)  I  looked  to 
you  to  plead  for  the  maid  for  the  sake  of  mercy, 
and  you  have  shown  no  mercy.  You  prate  of  shame 
and  honor  and  vows,  and  by  your  words  would  shed 
innocent  blood.  Tenderness  do  you  feel  for  the 
honor  of  Jephthah,  but  you  would  send  his  daugh 
ter  under  the  sacrificial  knife. 

AMASA.  (Shocked  at  his  rebellion)  My  son — 
you  speak  to  your  father ! 

NATHAN.  Nay,  I  speak  to  an  elder  in  Israel,  who 
bears  the  name  of  Justice  on  his  lips,  but  serves  her 
not  in  his  heart.  And  in  seeking  to  do  that  which 
is  pleasing  to  the  Lord  God,  you  men  of  wisdom  and 
elders  before  the  people  have  gone  groping  in  the 
darkness.  Cruelty  has  blinded  your  eyes  and  you 
stumble  as  you  go.  Cease  then  to  prate  of  Justice, 
but  learn  to  know  her  ways.  For  I,  too,  will  call 
upon  Justice  to  spare  the  daughter  of  Jephthah  in 
her  innocence. 

(Murmurs  among  the  people.    JEPHTHAH  raises  his 
haggard  face,  almost  daring  to  hope.) 

NATHAN.  (Pointing  to  SHEILAH  who  stands 
near  her  father)  This  maiden  is  my  betrothed  wife. 
Do  not  the  elders  in  Israel  know  that  her  father  has 
no  power  over  her,  that  she  was  not  his  to  dedicate 
to  the  Lord  when  he  made  his  vow? 

(Te  people  give  a  great  cry  of  relief.  JEPHTHAH 
breaks  down  utterly  and  gropes  to  reach 
SHEILAH,  but  she  has  already  hurried  to  NA 
THAN,  who  clasps  her  in  his  arms.) 

NATHAN.     (As  he  draws  her  from  the  rest)    Be- 


JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER  29 

loved,  will  you  take  life  from  my  hands  at  such  a 
price?  Will  you  wed  me  though  I  dared  to  speak 
of  you  as  mine  without  a  word  from  you  to  com 
fort  me  during  these  months  of  doubt  and  waiting? 

SHEILAH.  (Shyly,  not  daring  to  look  at  him)  If 
you  had  not  loved  me,  I  should  have  been  glad  to 
die,  for  only  in  your  love  are  joy  and  life  for  me. 

DINAH.  Praise  to  the  God  of  Israel  Who  would 
not  suffer  the  innocent  to  perish!  (She  crosses  to 
SHEILAH  and  embraces  her  tenderly,  before  leading 
her  to  her  father.) 

JEPHTHAH.  (Brokenly,  as  he  blesses  her)  My 
daughter,  my  little  white  dove,  will  you  forgive  me? 

SHEILAH.  You  knew  not  what  you  vowed.  (She 
goes  a  little  timidly  to  ELAD  who  stands  wrathfully 
apart.)  And  have  you  no  betrothal  blessing  for  me, 
O  my  grandfather? 

ELAD.  (In  a  voice  of  cold  anger)  How  can  I 
bless  that  which  the  Lord  has  already  cursed? 

('SHEILAH  shrinks  back,  the  people  growing  vaguely 
disturbed  under  the  implied  menace  in  his  words. 

AMASA.  Hard  words  to  welcome  a  bride  in  Is 
rael! 

ELAD.  Better  she  had  never  seen  the  light  than 
to  establish  a  home,  the  pillars  of  which  are  treach 
ery  and  the  foundations  deceit. 

JEPHTHAH.  O  my  father,  would  you  shame  your 
own  blood  before  the  eyes  of  all  Mizpeh? 

ELAD.  You  do  well,  my  son,  to  remind  me  that 
she  is  of  my  blood.  Is  she  not  doubly  dear  to  me, 
seeing  my  other  sons  and  their  children  are  all  dead, 
and  that  through  her  and  her  children  I  hoped  to 
see  my  name  live  on  in  Israel?  But,  dearer  to  me 
than  my  own  blood  is  righteousness  and  fair  dealing. 
Though  every  man  in  Mizpeh  turn  his  hand  to  trick- 


30  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

ery  and  applaud  falsehood,  still  will  I  cry  out  against 
you.  Though  you  seem  to  prosper  in  your  evil,  yet 
in  the  end  will  you  think  upon  my  warning,  for  you 
will  know  th.^t  it  is  without  profit  to  cheat  God. 

NATHAN.  Must  I  tell  an  elder  in  Israel  that  the 
husband  and  not  the  father  of  a  betrothed  maiden  is 
her  master?  That  if  she  is  betrothed  she  is  already 
as  his  wife  and  no  man  can  take  her  from  him. 

ELAD.     (Bitingly)     If  she  be  betrothed! 

NATHAN.  Her  father  consented  to  my  suit  a 
month  of  days  ere  he  vowed  her  away. 

ELAD.  Is  this  a  betrothal  in  Israel  ?  Where  were 
the  witnesses,  where  the  betrothal  ring,  the  dowry 
bestowed  upon  the  virgin,  and  the  writing  which 
bound  her  to  you  as  your  wife?  (He  turns  upon 
JEPHTHAH  savagely.)  I  have  fought  a  good  fight 
for  your  honor  and  I  have  failed.  Save  your  child 
by  a  trick  and  deceive  the  God  beneath  Whose  wings 
she  would  dwell  in  Israel.  But  may  death  close  my 
eyes  ere  they  behold  the  payment  He  will  demand 
of  the  tricksters  of  Mizpeh.  (He  turns  to  go,  but 
NATHAN  stands  in  his  path.) 

NATHAN.  I  have  sought  to  keep  silent  for  I  am 
but  a  youth  and  how  dare  I  speak  wrathfully  to  an 
aged  head  so  honored  in  Israel?  But  no  man  shall 
say  I  win  my  bride  by  fraud  and  double  dealing. 
(He  i.trns  desperately  to  the  people,  drawing 
SHEILAH  before  them.)  I  will  not  take  her  for  my 
wedded  wife  until  every  voice  in  Mizpeh  proclaim 
our  nuptial  blessing,  until  every  tongue  declare  that 
he  speaks  not  for  the  God  whose  honor  he  would  de 
fend,  but  out  of  the  doubtful  imagination  of  his  own 
heart.  (He  turns  to  ZEBUL.J  Zebul,  you  are  the 
maker  of  music,  the  singer  of  God,  and,  being  near 
His  heart,  you  hear  His  voice.  Speak,  seer,  and  tell 
us,  must  the  maiden  die? 

ZEBUL.     (Speaking  slowly  after  a  long  pause) 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  31 

E'en  I,  the  singer  of  God,  must  falter  in  my  speak 
ing,  for  how  shall  mortal  man  know  the  will  of  his 
Maker?  But  this  I  know — the  smoke  on  grudging 
altars  will  not  rise;  the  wreath  tmwilling  fingers 
place  upon  the  shrine  will  wither  in  an  hour.  We 
must  give  gladly,  if  we  give  to  Him. 

SHEILAH.  (Stepping  out  quickly)  And  I  give 
gladly  when  I  give  myself. 

NATHAN.  (Seeking  to  silence  her)  You  are 
mad. 

SHEILAH.  He  is  mad  who  would  dissuade  me. 
I  have  listened  while  the  elders  spoke  and  now  I 
know  that  my  father's  vow  must  be  fulfilled  and 
that  my  feet  must  follow  the  path  his  words  have 
made  for  me.  ( She  goes  to  him  quietly.)  Father, 
since  you  have  vowed  unto  the  Lord,  offering  up  my 
young  life,  even  for  the  sake  of  Mizpeh,  then  do  to 
me  according  to  your  vow. 

NATHAN.     No — Sheilah 

AM  ASA.  (Restraining  him)  Nay,  let  the  maiden 
speak. 

SHEILAH.  I  do  not  know  why  this  thing  has 
come  to  me.  Yesterday  my  life  stretched  before  my 
feet  like  a  meadow  cool  with  streams  and  bright 
with  flowers.  I  thought  that  God's  hand  would  lead 
me  along  the  quiet  household  ways  my  mother  knew 
and  that  I  would  serve  Him  best  by  rearing  strong 
sons  to  fight  for  Israel. 

NATHAN.  God  would  not  have  it  otherwise,  al 
though  your  father  again  and  yet  again  vowed  away 
your  life. 

SHEILAH.  (With  sudden  spirit)  Think  you  I 
lay  this  thing  upon  God  and  believe  in  my  heart  that 
He  desires  such  a  sacrifice  ?  Nay,  for  He  is  the  God 
of  love  and  pities  all  His  creatures.  Think  you  if 
I  have  care  to  feed  the  shy  brown  birds  and  sorrow 
o'er  the  flower  my  foot  has  trampled  in  passing. 


32  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 

that  He,  the  Maker  of  the  world  will  be  less  loving 
to  the  creatures  He  'has  made?  Surely,  He  Himself 
will  grieve  for  my  death  and  pity  me,  cut  off  in  the 
spring  and  promise  of  my  years. 

DINAH.  Truly,  He  would  take  no  delight  in  your 
death.  Live  and  be  happy  and  forget  your  father's 
vow. 

SHEILAH.  I  might  forget — but  the  men  of  Miz- 
peh  would  remember.  If  I  live,  then  must  his  new 
found  honor  die. 

DINAH.  (Clinging  to  her)  What  is  his  honor 
worth  against  your  life?  You  are  as  my  child  and 
I  would  not  live  to  weep  above  your  grave.  (Turn 
ing  to  the  people  who  shrink  back.)  O  men  of  Miz- 
peh,  loose  him  from  his  vow. 

SHEILAH.  You  see  they  do  not  answer.  From 
the  day  of  his  birth  has  my  father  borne  a  shame 
not  of  his  own  making.  The  son  of  the  foreign 
woman,  what  has  he  known  but  scorn  from  Gilead? 
And  now  that  with  his  own  blood  he  has  bought  a. 
clean  name  among  you,  shall  I  permit  him  to  lose  it 
for  my  sake? 

NATHAN.  And  what  of  me?  Let  the  elders  speak 
of  witnesses  and  the  ring  of  betrothal!  What  are 
these  things  to  us  who  love  one  another?  Before  I 
asked  your  father  for  your  hand,  did  not  your  eyes 
tell  me  your  love  was  mine?  Did  not  the  touch  of 
your  hand  before  I  followed  your  father  to  the  wars 
bind  us  together  even  before  God?  (He  draws  a 
broad  gold  bracelet  from  his  girdle  and  slips  it  upon 
her  zvrist.)  This  did  you  give  to  me  on  parting  and 
I  shall  not  rest  until  it  becomes  indeed  the  ring  of 
betrothal  and  as  my  wife  you  cross  the  threshold 
of  my  house. 

SHEILAH.  (Smiling  sadly)  And  what  gifts  could 
I  bring  my  husband?  Shame  and  the  mockery  of 
the  men  of  Mizpe'h  because  I  am  Jephthah's  daugh- 


JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER  33 

ter  and  live  through  his  dishonor.  Death  would  be 
easier  than  life  with  such  a  memory  crouching  be 
side  our  hearth. 

NATHAN.     (Brokenly)     O  Sheilah — Sheilah 

SHEILAH.  (With  a  touch  of  tenderness  already 
strangely  impersonal)  Nay,  my  Nathan,  nay,  old 
playmate — do  not  grieve  that  this  great  thing  has 
come  to  me — to  raise  my  father  high  before  the  peo 
ple  and  make  of  my  name  a  golden  memory  for  all 
days.  We  little  dreamed  of  this  when  in  the  spring 
time  we  played  together  knee-deep  among  the 
meadow  flowers.  (Her  hands  unconsciously  caress 
ing  the  flowers  she  picks  from  those  tossed  before 
JEPHTHAH,  her  eyes  turned  longingly  toward  the 
spring-flushed  hills.)  I  never  thought  that  I  should 
die  in  spring. 

DINAH.     (Wailing)     You  must  not  die! 

(The  other  women  take  up  her  lament  with  all  the 
passionate  grief  of  the  Orient.) 

SHEILAH.  (Giving  ivay  at  their  voices)  Hearken, 
ye  mountains,  to  my  lamentations,  and  you,  O  hills, 
to  the  tears  of  my  eyes.  Rocks,  testify  to  the  weep 
ing  of  my  soul  and  to  the  grief  that  is  in  me.  I 
have  not  been  granted  the  joy  of  marriage  nor  was 
the  wreath  of  my  betrothal  completed.  I  have  not 
been  decked  with  ornaments  by  the  hand  of  the  bride 
groom,  nor  have  I  been  scented  with  perfume  and 
with  myrrh.  Alas,  O  Mother,  it  was  in  vain  you 
gave  me  birth ;  the  grave  was  destined  to  be  my 
bridal  chamber. 

DINAH.  (Wailing)  The  oil  I  prepared  for  your 
anointing  must  be  spilled.  The  moths  will  eat  the 
white  garments  I  wove  for  your  bridal. 

SHEILAH.  The  bridal  wreath  my  nurse  twined 
for  me  will  wither.  (She  tears  from  her  hair  the 


34  JEPHTHAH'S    DAUGHTER 

myrtle  entwined  in  her  diadem.)  I  shall  take  no 
pride  in  my  garments  of  purple  and  blue. 

MAIDENS.  We  will  lament  over  your  passing — 
we  will  grieve  because  you  have  been  cut  off  in  the 
flower  of  your  life. 

SHEILAH.  I  have  danced  in  the  sunshine  and 
sung  in  the  early  morning.  (Turning  to  maidens.) 
Now  must  you  rend  your  garments  as  I  go  alone 
into  the  darkness. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Crying  from  his  broken  heart)  My 
daughter — O  my  daughter. 

SHEILAH.     (Her  own  grief  forgotten  for  his  sake) 

0  my  father,  look  upon  my  face.     (She  raises  his 
head  from  his  arms,  forcing  him  to  look  at  her.) 
Look  at  me,  father.     See — I  am  not  afraid. 

JEPHTHAH.  (Meeting  her  eyes  at  last)  What 
will  you  have  of  me,  my  daughter,  in  this  heavy 
hour? 

SHEILAH.  Grant  me  that  I  may  go  with  my  com 
panions  up  to  the  mountains  to  sojourn  there  while 

1  grieve  for  my  lost  youth.    Let  me  abide  there  two 
months  with  these  maidens  and  they  will  lament  with 
me  as  for  one  already  dead.     Yea,  even  the  trees 
should  weep  for  me  and  the  birds  mourn  in  their 
singing,  seeing  that  I  who  so  loved  them  must  de 
part  alone  out  of  the  land  of  the  living.    And  when 
the  two  months  are  over,  then  will  I  come  down  into 
Mizpeh  and  you  shall  do  to  me  according  to  your 
vow.     fjEPHTHAH  nods,  unable  to  speak.    He  em 
braces   her  silently.     She   turns   to   the   maidens.) 
Come  with  me  and  as  we  go  we  will  gather  flowers 
and  sing  merry  songs — the  songs  the  companions  of 
the  bride  sing,  when  all  rejoicing  they  bring  her  to 
her  husband's  house. 

DINAH.  (As  the  girls  gather  about  SHEILAH  ) 
Child — child — have  you  no  word  for  me? 

SHEILAH.     Dear,    cross    old    Dinah — you    must 


JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER  35 

never  scold  me  again.  Come,  you  will  go  with  us 
to  the  city's  gate.  (With  her  arm  abaut  DINAH,  she 
goes  to  JEPHTHAH  who  stands  with  his  face  hid- 
den,  leaning  against  the  doorpost.  She  looks  at  him 
longingly,  is  about  to  embrace  him,  shakes  her  head. 
Silently  approaches  ELAD  and  kisses  the  hem  of  his 
cloak.  His  face  working  with  emotion,  he  blesses 
her.  With  a  grave  obeisance  to  AMASA  and  the  other 
elders,  is  about  to  follow  the  singing  maidens  off 
toward  Mizpeh,  when  NATHAN  catches  her  hand.) 
NATHAN.  Sheilah — is  this  your  farewell  to  me? 

(For  a  moment  she  sways  against  DINAH,  then  with 
draws  her  hand  and  smiles  up  at  himf  a  grave, 
detached  smile.) 

SHEILAH.     In  two  months  I  shall  return. 

( The  bridal  music  rises  in  happy  chorus  as  she  fol 
lows  the  maidens,  supporting  the  weeping 
DINAH.  For  a  moment  there  is  silence  among 
the  people.  Suddenly  ZEBUL,  with  a  passionate 
gesture,  breaks  the  strings  of  his  harp.) 

ZEBUL.  O  harp  that  sang  of  triumph,  be  forever 
dumb.  (He  points  to  the  bowed  figure  of  JEPHTHAH 
before  his  house.) 

(Slowly  the  festal  procession  wends  its  way  toward 
Mizpeh,  their  grief-stricken  faces  in  strange 
contrast  to  the  bridal  chorus  of  the  maidens, 
who  repeat  again  and  again:  {<She  will  come  to 
the  bridegroom  with  rejoicing,  with  singing  and 
the  sound  of  harps!"  Alone,  JEPHTHAH  tears 
the  garlands  of  rejoicing  from  the  doorposts  of 
his  house.) 

THE  END 


36  JEPHTHAH'S   DAUGHTER 


NOTES 

To  the  Reader:  According  to  later  legends  clus 
tered  about  the  tale  of  Jephthah's  Daughter,  she  was 
named  Sheilah,  "the  one  who  is  demanded."  These 
commentators  also  described  Jephthah's  mother  as 
the  woman  of  another  tribe.  This  would  account 
for  the  ill  treatment  Jephthah  received  at  the  hands 
of  his  brethren,  as  that  time  a  woman  who  married 
out  of  her  own  tribe  was  held  in  great  contempt. 
Even  to  this  day  many  Orientals  esteem  the  betrothal 
as  binding  as  the  marriage.  And,  should  the  reader 
feel  that  Nathan  seems  out  of  place  in  the  rude 
atmosphere  of  the  Judges,  let  him  remember  the 
gentle  courtesy  of  Boaz  who  is  of  the  same  period. 

To  the  Producer:  The  scenery  may  be  as  conven 
tional  as  desired,  the  house  of  Jephthah  being  a  small 
hut,  almost  primitive  in  design,  the  place  before  it 
wild  and  rugged,  the  gates  and  hills  beyond  Mizpeh 
showing  faintly  in  the  distance.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  background  may  consist  of  curtains  of  a  dark  or 
neutral  color  with  the  house  of  Jephthah  and  its 
rude  entrance  indicated  on  the  left.  The  director  of 
the  music  should  remember  that  the  music  of  the 
Orient  lacks  what  we  are  pleased  to  call  "harmony' 
and  should  strive  for  the  rhythmic  chant  character 
istic  of  primitive  music.  If  desired,  the  "songs" 
may  be  chanted  or  even  spoken  to  the  music  of  a 
harp  or  violin  played  off  stage.  The  dances  may  be 
made  elaborate  or  simple,  according  to  the  talent 
available,  but  in  every  case  should  suggest  the  color 
and  the  vigor  of  the  East.  The  cast  may  be  short 
ened  to  include  only  a  handful  of  women  and  sol 
diers,  or  extended  to  include  a  large  number  of  sing 
ers  and  dancers  and  younger  children. 


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SAMUEL   FRENCH,  Publisher,  28-30  West  38th  Street 


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